Soak It In and Grow

7Ground that drinks up the rain falling on it repeatedly, and that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is cultivated, receives a blessing from God. ~ Hebrews 6:7

After what seems to have been an extra-long winter of too much snow, we are seeing the first signs of spring trying to burst forth with warmer weather and rain to melt the residual snows that still remain all around us.  The winds are blowing strongly on this sunny February day, much like we are used to seeing in March.  The ditches and ravines are running with cool streams of melted snows once again, lined by white blankets of snow that refuse to join in the travel of the streams they line.  The ground is saturated with water, but this very ground will soon produce the beautiful, lush carpets of green grass that we are so looking forward to after having seen so much white for so long.

God's Word is like the spring rains and melting snows of winter.  It falls upon our ears in worship service or is absorbed into our minds as we read it.  What we learn from His Word helps to produce good works on His behalf to others all around us.  The good works that we do in His name become blessings in return for us, as we feel the satisfaction of doing good for others.  If fills us with a sense of purpose and accomplishment that show us that we have an important part to play in the world today, as well as into the future.

Our church will be examining areas of spiritual gifts and ministries within our church that our church family can become involved in.  These ministries help to bring fulfillment to lives that are looking for ways to serve God, as well as to those needing these very ministries to fill their spirits with God's love.  Ministries can be as simple as volunteering in a church office, helping with mailings, or delivering items to food pantries.  They can be as involved as joining in a mission trip to serve elsewhere or serve at a food kitchen.  Whatever and wherever one of the family of God finds meaning and purpose to fulfill God's mission in their lives, it can be found by exploring the different opportunities within the church.  From there, they can branch out to even more areas outside of the church to serve a greater need for those not here yet - those still seeking after God and not yet having found Him.  

What are your spiritual gifts?  How can you live a more fulfilled life in service to God?  Come explore ways to serve that you may not have even thought of and grow in your faith as you do the work of our Lord.  

Prayer

Lord,  

May Your Word guide me and show me how to better serve You, so that my faith in You will grow and blossom into all that You have put me here to be.  Amen.

~ Wendy Miller